Fate II

CCXV

"Kouen."

The two stared at each other, the world seeming to have come to a standstill. Her honey-brown eyes flickered as she felt the clenching of her chest and the threat of tears at the corner of her eyes. Neither of the two had aged in the time that they hadn't seen each other. With her skin and eyes appearing more vibrant than the last time he had seen her, he could feel the tears threatening to fall. He blinked them back, his crimson maroon eyes gazing lovingly at her, a gaze that she had longed for but only caused her to tremble in fear.

"I didn't think that we'd be visiting the same place," he spoke, breaking the silence.

Lucy flinched, taking an unconscious step backward as he took one step forward. Kouen saw the small flicker of fear in her eyes and seeing her flinch and back away as if he was some sort of dreadful monster, he gulped and clenched his hand, returning back to his initial position.

"Yes," she breathed, calming herself. "It's unexpected."

Upon regaining her composure, she met his gaze and stared back at him. But, no matter how hard she tried to put up a cold front, he saw through it. His chest tightened and he couldn't help but soften his eyes, knowing that somewhere in her heart, there was still him.

"Since this is an unofficial meeting, there's no need for us to talk any longer," she said and prepared to walk past him. "If you will excuse me."

As her position was higher than his, there was no need to bow. Stepping to the side, she walked past him, leaving to ask for a few more plates of desserts to be carried up. But, as she was beginning to leave, Kouen reached his hand out to her, and feeling it, she widened her eyes and immediately turned around.

"Aegis!"

The golden shield surrounded her, its hexagonal patterns flickering and forming as Kouen was stunned back, his eyes widened in surprise as electricity coursed through the hand which tried to reach for hers. Her eyes glowed goldenly and he stared at her, clenching his hand and hiding it from view, knowing that she hated seeing people injured — even if it was him. After all, she was not his enemy. Their relationship had never turned sour but rather, one of desperation. She was desperate to forget him and wanted nothing to do with him while he was desperate to make up for what he did and have her back.

He was wrong. He was arrogant. He should've stood up for her and never doubted her feelings in the first place. But, in her eyes, he only saw hatred. Yet, he still could not let go. Even if she looked at him with such a hateful, fearful gaze, he didn't have the heart to let go.

I'm indeed a greedy man, he clenched his teeth, hating himself.

"Ren Kouen," her eyes were wide with disdain. "Remember your position and mine."

He looked at her. "You cut off your ties with the Imperial Family."

"Something that I should've done long ago," she answered. "The moment I left the Kou Empire and became the Queen of Sindria, I should've cut my ties."

"Do you hate it that much? Do you hate me that much?"

She laughed. "That was the question I should've asked you many years ago."

He gritted his teeth and looked at her, his crimson maroon orbs beginning to water. "There was not a moment in my life where I hated you."

"It's a shame that your actions couldn't prove that."

He flinched. The words she said were a reminder of just how much he had wronged her. Like a knife stabbing his heart, his chest prickled with pain as he could only stand there and stare at her with helpless, sorrowful eyes. She stared at him, the golden light in her eyes fading away. His expression may have worked in the past but right now, she wasn't moved in the least.